Westmont, Illinois -- February 3, 2021
The Village of Westmont Public Works Department would like to provide residents with some cold weather tips for your home. With temperatures expected to drop within the next week, please review these suggestions to help prevent water pipes in your home from freezing:
- If your water pipes run through cabinets or vanities, open the doors to let warmer room temperature air flow in.
- Keep water moving through the pipes by allowing a small trickle of water to run. The cost of the extra water will be much lower than the cost of repairing broken pipes.
If your pipes do freeze, you can try these remedies:
- Shut off the water immediately. Do not attempt to thaw the pipes without turning off the main water valve.
- Thaw the pipes with warm air. You can melt frozen water in the pipe by warming the air around it with a hair dryer or space heater.
- Be careful turning the water back on. Once the pipes are thawed, slowly turn the water back on and check the pipes and joints for any cracks or leaks that might have been caused by the freezing.
If you leave your home unattended, please follow these guidelines:
- Maintain above-freezing heat in all areas so pipes don’t freeze.
- Leave doors open under the sink or other closed areas to circulate warm air.
- Turn off the water heater. If it is electric, turn it off completely. If it is gas, turn the controls to pilot.
- Unplug the water softener so that it won’t regenerate.
- If you have shut off your water, open the hot and cold faucets to drain the system.
- Have a trusted friend check your vacant home periodically, or check with the Police Department about their vacation watch program.
If you have any questions about your water service, please contact Jim Cates at 630-981-6293.
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